ROCK HILL, South Carolina, June 18, 2015 – 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced that Southend University Hospital established an innovative interventional stroke service using 3DS’ ANGIO Mentor Suite simulator at Anglia Ruskin University for efficient and realistic team training for endovascular stroke treatment.

According to the American Heart Association Annual Statistical Update based on data compiled from over 190 countries, stroke remains the number 2 cause of death in the world. In the US, stroke is the number 4 cause of death, killing nearly 129,000 people a year.(1)

Recent clinical studies have demonstrated for the first time that endovascular treatment (mechanical opening of brain artery) can improve stroke patient outcome.(2) Currently, only 1% of ischemic stroke patients receive this costly but potentially life-saving treatment but, based on the positive outcome of these studies, this number is expected to increase to 10%.(3)

Southend University Hospital established an innovative interventional stroke service using the ANGIO Mentor Suite simulator at Anglia Ruskin University. The hospital found that running dedicated training courses in a true-to-life cath lab environment using a virtual reality simulator, enhanced understanding of high-risk stroke procedures, strengthened collaboration and increased communication skills across the various clinical teams involved in this complex procedure. Watch a video to see how team training at Anglia Ruskin University compares to performing a real procedure at Southend University Hospital.

Prof. Iris Grunwald, Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiologist at Southend University Hospital and Director Neuroscience and Vascular Simulation at Anglia Ruskin University said, “In order to provide timely regional coverage for endovascular stroke treatment, more hospitals and physicians will need to provide endovascular stroke services. To practice this high risk procedure, I believe procedural training on a virtual reality simulator such as the ANGIO Mentor Suite should be mandatory to provide an environment that is as close as possible to the actual setting when treating a patient.”

3DS, with its end-to-end digital thread from surgical simulation and training to virtual surgical planning and 3D printing of anatomical models, surgical instruments, implants and medical devices, will be holding free webinars on Acute Ischemic Stroke Intervention as part of its efforts to provide education and training for the healthcare industry on June 25 and on July 14. During these webinars, 3DS will demonstrate a step-by-step treatment path using the stroke module on the ANGIO Mentor simulator. Click here for more information and to sign up for the webinar.

3DS will exhibit its full range of advanced healthcare training solutions including a large selection of virtual reality simulators and 3D printed models at the upcoming SESAM exhibition in Belfast, Ireland on June 24 – 26.

Learn more about 3DS’ commitment to manufacturing the future today at www.3dsystems.com.

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